Foresters Financial maintains A.M. Best "A" (Excellent) ratings

The independent rating agency A.M. Best Company2 has given The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) an "A" (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating (FSR). The IOF has maintained an "A" rating for 16 consecutive years. A.M. Best also affirmed the IOF issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a+".

In addition, A.M. Best maintained the "A" (Excellent) FSR rating for two of Foresters subsidiaries, Foresters Life Insurance Company (FLIC) and Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company (FLIAC). The ICR for both subsidiaries also held its "a+" rating.

This independent rating is an important measure of the organization's financial strength3 and stability, reflecting the ability of Foresters Financial to fulfill its ongoing insurance obligations to policyholders.

"I'm extremely proud of Foresters and its subsidiaries," says Tony Garcia, President and CEO, Foresters Financial. "Maintaining an A rating is a testament to our continued focus on financial stability and we look forward to building on this success in the years to come."

Foresters has shared its financial strength with its members4 and their communities for over 140 years and is today in a strong financial position with total funds under management of almost $34 billion (CDN) and total assets of $13.6 billion (CDN) as of December 31, 2015. Foresters gross premium income increased by 17% in 2015 and at the end of the year, it had more than three million certificates under management and over one million members in Canada, the US and the UK.

Foresters conservative investment strategy has resulted in a surplus of $2.29 billion CDN5, helping it to withstand adverse business and market conditions. With a Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirements (MCCSR) ratio of 428% as of December 31, 2015, Foresters solvency ratios6 are well above local regulatory requirements and industry averages in all three countries in which it operates - Canada, the US and the UK.

For more information about A.M. Best Company's ratings, visit ambest.com.

About ForestersFinancialForesters Financial™ is an international financial services provider with more than three million clients and members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and total funds under management of almost $34 billion. With a history of more than 140 years, we provide life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions that help families achieve their financial goals, protect their families and improve their communities. For more information, visit foresters.com.

Foresters Financial and Foresters are trade names and trademarks of The Independent Order of Foresters (a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9) and its subsidiaries.

Products offered vary by country. Not all products are available for distribution in all jurisdictions. In the United States, products are offered by The Independent Order of Foresters and its subsidiaries, including Foresters Financial Services, Inc. a registered broker-dealer. Securities, life insurance and annuity products are offered through Foresters Financial Services, Inc. or independent producers. Insurance products are issued by Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company, New York, or The Independent Order of Foresters. Investment advisory products and services are offered through Foresters Advisory Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

In Canada, products are offered by The Independent Order of Foresters and its subsidiary Foresters Life Insurance Company.

1Financial strength refers to the overall financial health of The Independent Order of Foresters. It does not refer to nor represent the performance of any particular investment or insurance product. All investing involves risk, including the risk that you can lose money.

2The A.M. Best ratings assigned on August 18, 2016 reflect overall strength and claims-paying ability of The Independent Order of Foresters, Foresters Life Insurance Company and Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company (formerly First Investors Life Insurance Company) but does not apply to the performance of any non IOF or FLIAC issued product. An "A" (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. See ambest.com for our latest ratings. In assigning the ratings for The Independent of Order Foresters, Foresters Life Insurance Company and Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company, A.M. Best stated that the rating outlook is "stable", which means it is unlikely to change in the near future.

3Financial strength refers to the overall financial health of The Independent Order of Foresters. It does not refer to nor represent the performance of any particular investment or insurance product. All investing involves risk, including the risk that you can lose money.

4Description of member benefits that you may receive assumes you are a Foresters member. In the United States members may currently only be anyone insured under a life or health insurance certificate, or an annuitant under an annuity certificate, issued by The Independent Order of Foresters. If you are not an insured under a life or health insurance certificate, or an annuitant under an annuity certificate, issued by The Independent Order of Foresters, or are not a social fraternal member, then you are not a member. Foresters member benefits are non-contractual, subject to benefit specific eligibility requirements, definitions and limitations and may be changed or cancelled without notice.

5This surplus, comprising approximate assets of $13.6 billion and liabilities of $11.4 billion, represents excess funds above the amount required as legal reserves for insurance and annuity certificates in force and provides additional assurances to our members for our long term financial strength.

6Solvency ratios indicate that Foresters ability to meet long-term obligations is above and beyond what is required.